7

The usually docile creature was now radiating a fierce, crimson light I had never seen before. Her soft body surged, swelling to dozens of times its original size.

She lunged to snag the blood-stained whip. In the instant she deflected the force, her own translucent limbs shattered, falling to the floor in fragments.

To my horror, I saw what happened next.

Countless stinging nematocysts erupted from her wounds, instantly burying themselves into Scarlett’s body and releasing a potent toxin.

Scarlett’s face twisted in agony.

Wherever the stingers had pierced, her skin turned a bruised, necrotic black within seconds.

Panic seized her.

"How can a jellyfish have such violent toxicity?! Quickly—someone save me!"

8

A shrill alarm blared through the halls.

Scarlett was carried away by a team of doctors in white coats.

Because the toxin was so aggressive, they had to amputate the leg she was stung on. She would be forced to use a crutch for the rest of her life.

The incident caught the attention of the high-ranking officials immediately.

Director Vance’s face was pale as a ghost when he found me.

"Dawn, have you lost your mind?! Do you have any idea who she is? She’s the daughter of the Deputy Director of the Bureau!"

"The higher-ups have issued a terminal order. All three of those un-transformed subjects are to be executed."

My heart went cold.

I was shocked, my voice filled with disbelief. "But these subjects are on the verge of full transformation! Such a thing happens once in decades—have they gone mad?!"

Vance looked at me helplessly. "There’s no other way."

"The execution is set for tomorrow. You can go see them one last time, but don't stay long."

He walked away with a heavy sigh.

My legs gave out, and I nearly collapsed to the floor.

How could it end like this?

Caspian was locked in a cage, bound by massive iron chains that pierced deep through his collarbones.

"Caspian..."

At the sound of my voice, he snapped his head up, his eyes flooding with joy.

"Master..."

He struggled, trying to pull himself toward me.

But his frantic movements only drove the chains deeper into his flesh. Crimson blood bloomed in the water instantly, looking like roses opening beneath the surface.

I fought back tears. "Don't move. I’m getting you medicine."

I poured several soluble healing agents into the water, hoping to dull his pain even a little.

Turning to Azul, I let out a silent sob.

"Azul... are you okay?"

The octopus was huddled in a tiny corner.

His severed tentacles lay scattered across the bottom of the tank, pale and bloated from the water.

His eyes were cloudy and his skin was turning white—the telltale signs of impending death.

"I’m sorry. I failed to protect you," I whispered, my voice cracking.

Azul seemed to hear me.

His lifeless, pale skin gradually darkened back to a faint black.

His remaining tentacles coiled weakly, reaching out as if to offer me a final embrace.

"Wait... is he... is he regenerating?!"

I stared in shock.

9

Director Vance rushed over as soon as he heard the news.

New tentacles were budding from Azul's severed stumps, growing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

They looked more flexible, more powerful than before.

The surrounding staff members were all wearing expressions of utter amazement.

"Incredible! I thought he was at death’s door, but he possesses such powerful regenerative abilities! He’s actually repairing his limbs!"

"It would be such a waste to execute a subject this strong!"

I felt a sliver of hope.

"Director, is there a chance we can save him?"

Vance’s expression was complex, filled with a surprise he couldn't hide.

"I’ll do my best to report this up the chain!"

10

But the next day, the executioners arrived anyway.

The upper management had rejected the Director’s proposal. They demanded the immediate termination of the three subjects and added a new requirement:

I was to be executed alongside them.

The official reason: unauthorized entry into a Sierra-Class sector, under suspicion of being an enemy spy attempting to steal classified experimental data.

Aster’s eyes turned red when he heard the news.

"Dawn..."

"Let me take you and run."

I shook my head. "The security here isn't a joke; you can't get me out. Besides... they still have my family. I can't leave."

"Aster, since you’ve looked out for me all these years, the snacks hidden in my locker are all yours now."

He grit his teeth. "How can you talk about that at a time like this!"

I managed a small smile.

"I just hope you won't be too sad."

His eyes welled up again. "I won't let you die," he whispered.

After a moment of silence, he turned and walked away.